I love a parade – or why the Eagles are going to win the Super Bowl

Lincoln Financial Field, where the Eagles on Sunday night hope to beat the Vikings and advance to the Super Bowl for the third time. - (Photo / F. Footer)

2.8 percent.

That’s the historical rate in which the existing Philadelphia pro sports franchises have won their league championship.

Even phone books are still used more often that.

Since 1883, when the Phillies were formed, the Phils, Eagles, Sixers and Flyers combined have completed 322 seasons. They have won just nine titles.

That's more disappointing than not finding any stray french fries at the bottom of your McDonald's bag.

But it says here that Philadelphia’s title percentage is about to get better, that the Eagles are about to claim the city’s fourth National Football League championship and first Super Bowl victory.

No mind-altering medications were taken during the writing of this blog. Rather, this is about the Eagles’ defense, which was built, coached and groomed to be fresh and dominant in the playoffs.

Philly is just due for a victory parade. (Someone please alert the police, National Guard and 101st Airborne Division.)

For the record: The Sixers have two titles in 53 seasons. The Phillies two championships in 135 seasons. The Flyers two titles in 50 seasons. And the Eagles have three championships in 84 seasons (1948, 1949 and 1960). The Super Bowl began in January 1967.

RANDOM SHOTS AND SECOND THOUGHTS

-- Item: American Mackenzie McDonald nearly pulls off a major upset over Grigor Dimitrov in the Australian Open. … I believe I speak for 99.999 percent of Americans when I ask: Who in the heck is Grigor Dimitrov? (On the other hand, he has never heard of me, either.)

-- Headline of the week, as seen on the website of the CBS-TV affiliate in Sacramento, Calif.: “Lawyer: O.J. Simpson golfing a lot in Vegas, no word on search for real killer.”

-- Pitchers and catchers report 24 days from now. The Phillies will be eliminated from the playoffs 25 days from now. (Another reason why Philly needs an Eagles' title.)